Post Office bosses were today accused of "corporate vandalism" as pressure mounts to save four branches in Eastbourne.

Petitions, demonstrations and letters of objection were being prepared in response to the shock closure announcement by Post Office Ltd.

News of the fresh wave of closures provoked outrage just weeks after it was revealed that one of the town's busiest branches, in Upperton Road, is also facing closure.

The three branches which now face the axe in December as part of cost-cutting plans are in Avard Crescent, Church Street and Compton Street.

The move has triggered cross-party condemnation and led to fears that many small businesses will close because of the snowball effect as fewer people visit the areas.

Up to 60 per cent of small companies quizzed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believe their businesses will collapse if the closures go ahead.

Opposition to the plans is being galvanised as consultation gets under way to test public reaction to the proposals.

A high-powered delegation led by Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson, will meet Post Office chiefs in London on Monday to press their case to keep the branches open.

The trip was originally organised to vent anger at plans to close the Upperton Road branch in November because it has been losing £65,000 a year.

But with news of three more possible closures, the meeting takes on even more significance.

Andrew Stuart, chairman of the Eastbourne and Wealden branch of the FSB, said today: "Our members are totally dismayed.

"They are very unhappy the Post Office can just spring this on us without any decent consultation or thought about what type of effect closing these branches will have on other businesses.

"They are justifying the proposed closure of the Upperton Road branch by saying that it is making huge losses.

"But with these three new branches, there doesn't seem to be any justification at all."

Post Office Ltd insisted the closures would improve the long-term prospects of other nearby branches and it reassured customers by saying other outlets were within a short distance.

A spokesman said: "Even after any changes are made, well over 95 per cent of customers will still live within a mile of a Post Office branch.

"We have concluded that if the three proposed branches were to close, it would improve the long-term prospects of the other branches in the area."

Post Office chiefs have been accused of "corporate vandalism" and of showing a lack of customer care.

Lib Dem parliamentary hopeful Stephen Lloyd said: "I am absolutely certain it is no coincidence the Post Office have tried to sneak this news out under the cover of the Upperton Road closure.

"This cannot be described as anything resembling customer care.

"In fact, it's the very worst kind of corporate vandalism. I deplore what the Post Office bosses are doing to our town."